Shared Learning Objectives

By the conclusion of the program, we expect that participants will meet these learning objectives:
I am aware of the significant role of mass media, popular culture and digital media in the lives of my students.
I can use instructional strategies that make use of mass media, popular culture and digital technology to support student learning in the areas of language arts, science, social studies, health education, and the fine and performing arts.
I have increased my confidence in using a variety of media and digital technology tools with my students in ways that connect to my existing curriculum at RBCS.
I can use online sharing tools with my students to promote expression and communication between home and school.
I have developed, implemented and assessed a project that activates students’ digital and media literacy competencies

Session 1: What is Media Literacy? Addressing Knowledge, Beliefs and Feelings about Mass Media, Popular Culture and Digital Technology
Media Text: Images from Internet searches
I can reflect on my knowledge, beliefs and feelings about mass media, popular culture and digital technology and share ideas with a colleague
I can work collaboratively to select images that help express different ideas
I can compose full sentences that capture my attitudes and feelings
I can sequence and organize ideas to convey meaning to a reader/viewer
I can use PowerPoint as a creative multimedia composition tool
I can work effectively under deadline pressure

Session 2: Exploring Media Literacy Concepts Through Visual Storytelling
Media Text: Comics
Understand and apply MLE process: access, analyze, compose, reflect
Understand and apply ML concepts: “All messages are constructed,” author, purpose, audience
Recognize and use the codes and conventions of comics
Appreciate how the use of popular culture texts support literacy engagement
Gain familiarity in the use of comic software tools
Strengthen collaboration skills
Understand the relationship between analysis, composition and interpretation

Session 3: All Messages Are Constructed
Media Text: The news
Learning how to use the 5 Questions of Media Literacy to have a conversation about the news
Identifying the benefits and challenges of using current events in the classroom.
Exploring web sources, authors, and determining the tools needed to conduct effective and reliable/credible web searches
Explain the significance of “all messages are constructed” in your own words.
Ability to identify the author(s) of a web source.
Ability to discuss the different types of web authors.
Understanding how the relationship between message and source will help me to evaluate credibility.
Examine how visual choices in photography can support or frame an article
Understand how meaning-making is an active process between audience and author.

Session 4: Mini Lessons & Wikispaces
Media Text: Texts used in mini-lessons
Reflect on and revise a lesson based on a media literacy framework.
Create Wikispaces pages with functioning links and embedded media.
Understand the broad goals of taking responsibility for creating, reflecting on, and assessing the long-term lesson.
Appreciate the value of public, digital, and collaborative lesson planning and shared reflection.

Session 5: The Benefits & Challenges of Bringing Popular Culture Into the Classroom
Media Texts: Jessica Jurell’s song, “Almost Love”; various video clips for Jing Project
Appreciate how simple or problematic media texts can be analyzed carefully for complex meanings to strengthen critical thinking skills.
Gain confidence selecting media texts for instructional use according to the following criteria: (a) students’ needs and abilities; (b) your ability to predict a range of responses through rich, provocative, multiple-POV discussions; (c) text’s ability to challenge students and expand critical thinking abilities; (d) adherence to target lesson outcome for text.
Write a script using the 5 Critical Questions and create a simple screencast.
Brainstorm concepts, products, and media texts for use in a long-term project.

Session 6: The 7 Great Debates of Media Literacy Education & Final Project Planning